SOUTH Africa’s volatile Minister of Sport Gayton McKenzie had some sage advice for the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) and Athletics South Africa (ASA) in the aftermath of the Luxolo Adams debacle.
The South African 200m sprinter, Adams, has threatened legal action after Sascoc and ASA dropped him from the squad to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics because of his poor form.
It was a devastating call for Adams who was initially informed he was selected to go to Paris. Adams was also upset that such an important matter was handled via a WhatsApp message.
McKenzie, speaking to reporters on Thursday at the funeral of the late former Bafana Bafana coach Stanley “Screamer” Tshabalala, said the two organisations should have assured the athlete that he would go to Paris, even if he was not competing.
“It can’t be a train smash to say (to the athlete): ‘You might not run but we must include you on the trip to go (to Paris)’,” said McKenzie.
This retort sounds logical although it is hard to accept that the 27-year-old Adams would feel compensated for the loss of his Olympic place after he was selected.
McKenzie has vowed to leave no stone unturned to ensure that Adams will go to the Olympic Games even if he has to withdraw an official from the Olympic entourage.
“He will go (to Paris). If I have to, I will remove somebody from the department to make space for him,” said McKenzie. “I’ll do that because I don’t want to crush the soul of a young man who qualified. That is not me, that has never been me and that will never be me.”
McKenzie said he had delved into the matter and afterwards approached the two bodies.
“I have spoken with the presidents of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee and ASA and told them they must not demoralise young people,” said McKenzie.
“That boy comes from a village, and no matter what they think he did wrong, he deserves to go. He has qualified to go.
“They must include him in the trip because he inspires millions of young people in the village and province where he comes from.”
Without mentioning Mama Joy Chauke and Botha Msila, McKenzie said whereas South Africa was prepared to fly super fans to world events, the country should rather fly ‘super’ athletes instead
“We have taken many super fans, why can’t we take super athletes like him? I can’t say he is going to run at the Olympics because I have no jurisdiction over that but I will make sure that he goes,” said McKenzie.
The SA athletes and skateboarders will fly out to Paris tomorrow evening. Most of Team SA is already in Paris after the badminton, rugby, swimming, archery and rowing teams left earlier in the week. The triathlon and equestrian teams fly out today.